Closed An Abandoned Camp [N'all]

[Riaruk]

65th Winter, 512 AV - Outside Main Gates Riaruk had spent a few days within the rabbit warren that was Stormhold Castle and had felt his senses dulling and his mind beginning to feel strained. As his senses had dulled he had felt Rakesh push harder at him, trying to seize control of their body to fulfil his own ends. Rakesh, predictably, took the opposite view of Syliras that Riaruk did – he loved it without reservation. The closeness of the people had brought more than a score of crude comments about women and their bodies, the bumps from other men had brought shouts for a scuffle or two. He needed to clear his head before something drastic occurred and so he had taken the opportunity to leave the city and take in the fresh air of the wilds around the city – or what the Sylirans called wilds at any rate. It’s boring here, let’s go back. I’m sure I saw a tavern back there Rakesh bemoaned to him, trying to force control and return. Why do you always think only of pleasure, you oaf? Riaruk asked in return. Because you never do… came the reply, followed by silence. As he walked the path further away from the main gates Riaruk took in the air, lung full by massive lung full, and tried to ease his mind into a semblance of balance. It was a difficult task but Rakesh was choosing not to fight him this time and he managed to use his ritual breathing techniques to focus his mind enough to feel in control – at least for now. Opening his light purple eyes he continued to walk the well-travelled path for a few chimes further. He was about to turn back and sit a span just outside the gates, to work on his meditative techniques and the betterment of his clarity. However, as he was about to turn a curious sight greeted his gaze and his curiosity was piqued. A few dozen paces ahead was what appeared to be a small camp. He approached it to investigate, he knew there was a low likelihood of banditry this close to the city but it could have been someone in need of aid. “Hello, anyone here?” he asked in stalling common, his skill with the language not eloquent in the least. It was a neat camp at least, all in order and no sign of disturbance or scuffle. The tent was pitched well, though it dipped a bit too far in the middle for Riaruk’s liking, the traveller could not have been overly skilled. He pushed open the flaps briefly and found the temporary abode to be devoid of life. Hands upon hips he looked around, turning as he did so, to find nothing of note. It was a deserted camp, a well made deserted camp. It did not strike him as a logical occurrence and so, he reasoned, the owner must have been nearby and not visible to his sight. He resolved to sit and practise his meditation there, at least until the owner arrived and could be seen to be well and hearty. Always the helping hand. Foolish Helping others is not foolish, it is a kindness No, without payment it is foolish. You will be used, mark my words Riaruk, you will be used. A knight indeed! Riaruk frowned and tried to dismiss Rashek’s scathing assessment of his character from his mind with his meditation. He was not getting very far with it after a number of chimes and anger began to seep into him, against his better judgement.

[N'all Rivent]

N'all shifted back to his human form, taking the cloth he had been clutching in his talons, wrapping it around his waste, letting it fall to his knees to cover his nether regions. He strode down the path hoping to find it empty after his flight. As he neared the path at the edge of his camp he heard someone saying in, not so perfect, common, "Hello, anyone here."

He peered into his camp from the path, only to find an Akalak meditating. He slowly walked into the clearing where both the Akalak and his camp sat, looking at the Akalak with an expression of confusion. He stood there for a moment, wondering why an Akalak would stop at some camp outside of Syliras, it was unlikely a bandit, even a stupid one, would make there camp so near a city. "Hello," he said tentatively in common, the only language he knew, believing that this was the man who had said hello, and that he might be looking for N'all.

He walked over to his tent, removing his cloths from its dingy interior. Pulling on his standard clothing over his body and throwing the bit of cloth to the side. He stood at his tents opening, watching the Akalak with confused and worried eyes.